Garmin
Garmin Vivosmart 5
$149.99Cheaper
Released 2022-04
Best Fitness Trackers · head-to-head
Garmin Vivosmart 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Ring
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Garmin Vivosmart 5 is cheaper at $149.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Samsung
Samsung Galaxy Ring
$399.99
Released 2024-07
Which is better: the Garmin Vivosmart 5 or Samsung Galaxy Ring?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is the cheaper at $149.99.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Garmin Vivosmart 5 | Samsung Galaxy Ring |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $149.99 US MSRP at launch Apr 20 2022. | $399.99 |
| Brand | Garmin | Samsung |
| Released | 2022-04 | 2024-07 |
| Form factor | band | ring |
| Display | OLED 0.84in monochrome | — |
| Battery days | 7 | 7 |
| Gps | No | No |
| Spo2 | Yes | Yes |
| Ecg | No | No |
| Subscription required | No | No |
| Water resistance (m) | 50 | 100 |
| Release | 2022 | 2024 |
Sources — Garmin Vivosmart 5: garmin.com (verified 2026-06-15). Samsung Galaxy Ring: androidcentral.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Garmin Vivosmart 5 and Samsung Galaxy Ring?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (2 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Form factor: Garmin Vivosmart 5 band vs Samsung Galaxy Ring ring
- Water resistance (m): Garmin Vivosmart 5 50 vs Samsung Galaxy Ring 100
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Garmin Vivosmart 5
Three whitelisted testers (DC Rainmaker, Tom's Guide, TechRadar) field-tested the exact Vivosmart 5. All praise its accurate optical heart rate, ~7-day battery (with all-day SpO2 off), and free no-subscription Garmin Connect data, but flag the dated monochrome screen and missing onboard GPS. DC Rainmaker calls it a rare miss and overpriced versus the $149 Fitbit Charge 5; TechRadar calls it excellent for everyday wellbeing; Tom's Guide rates it a good tracker that falls short without GPS. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Accurate, responsive optical heart rate in workout/interval tests; Long ~7-day battery life (with all-day SpO2 disabled); Deep Garmin Connect data with no subscription paywall (unlike Fitbit).
Flagged: No onboard GPS; relies on phone, causing distance errors on longer routes; Dated monochrome screen, hard to read outdoors/on the move; All-day SpO2 monitoring drains battery drastically (to ~3-4 days).
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Three whitelisted testers (Engadget, TechRadar, Tom's Guide) wore the first-gen Galaxy Ring for a week or more. All praise its light, comfortable design, ~5-7 day battery and no-subscription Samsung Health tracking. Common gripes: the $399 price, Samsung-phone/app lock-in, and thin feature set versus Oura. None ran lab-grade accuracy tests. (3 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Lightweight, comfortable, unobtrusive to sleep in; Strong real-world battery life (roughly 5-7 days); No subscription fee for Samsung Health features.
Flagged: High $399 price for limited functionality vs a watch; Requires Samsung/Android + Samsung Health; no iPhone support and gestures limited to some phones; Software/features lag Oura and AI advice can be off-base.